LEWIS Hamilton insists he has "everything to gain" from the championship-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as he looks to complete Mission Impossible and stop Nico Rosberg from clinching the Formula One crown.

Hamilton, who has been in scintillating form in recent races, will start the concluding race of the sport's longest season from pole position after delivering another crushing display over his Mercedes team-mate to claim his fourth successive pole position.

The dominant Briton was in a field of one under the floodlights on Saturday, and his pole was never in doubt. He finished more than three tenths of a second clear of his rival.

Lewis Hamilton stands in the garage before the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix (Image: Getty)

Hamilton knows however, that victory alone will not be enough. Should Rosberg, who is 12 points ahead of Hamilton, finish in the top three then it is he, rather than the Stevenage-born racer, who will win the title.

The odds may be stacked against Hamilton, but the triple world champion, cheered on by his mother Carmen this week, heaped the pressure on Rosberg by insisting he has nothing to lose.

"It's been such a privilege driving this car," Hamilton said. "This weekend I've got the car in a real sweet spot, and I'm in a perfect position for tomorrow.

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"I feel amazing. I feel energetic. I feel confident of what I've been doing in the car. I have everything to gain tomorrow, and I am super excited about it."

Hamilton would normally be expected to drive off into the sunset, but one school of thought is that he may consider backing Rosberg into the clutches of the Red Bulls - Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen start third and sixth respectively - and the Ferrari duo of Kimi Raikkonen, fourth on the grid, and Sebastian Vettel, who is one spot futher back, to provide him with the best chance of securing an unlikely fourth title.

Nico Rosberg is favourite to win the Grand Prix (Image: Getty)

The Briton, who will end the season with more victories - should he win tomorrow - and a greater number of pole positions than Rosberg, has already dismissed the idea that he will get involved in such a tactic.

But while a huge winning margin over Rosberg may support his theory that he has been the best driver this year following a title defence thwarted by reliability problems, it will not necessarily win Hamilton the title.

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"The drivers are great sportsmen and they know that overstepping the line would cause a lot of controversy," Toto Wolff, the Mercedes boss said.

"I trust that it is going to go well tomorrow, for the benefit of the team and the effort that has been given. Winning the race is our number one priority."

Rosberg, whose father Keke - the 1982 world champion - will watch from the comfort of his Monaco residence on Sunday, insists he will fight for the win despite being afforded the luxury of only having to finish third.